Looks Like Heart Of The Swarm Won’t Be Out This Year

Just to be clear, I didn’t actually think it would be coming out this year in the first place. Despite Blizzard claiming that only “1%” of the development on Heart of The Swarm remained, the studio has stated that their highly anticipated next chapter in the StarCraft 2 trilogy will only be releasing next year.

In an investors call yesterday, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime confirmed that the studio is aiming for a release in the first half of next year, which is a rather broad release window if you ask me. That means Heart of the Swarm could potentially only release in May or June, which is still a considerably amount of time away. The game’s multiplayer has been in closed beta for a while now, so what Blizzard still need to do over a potential course of five months is beyond me.

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm will add a host of new features to compliment it’s spot in eSports, with resumable replays, clan support, player progression and more. There are a few places you could look to for some beta coverage if you’re gunning to get a glimpse of new units and mechanics.

Anyone who is in Alpha was forced to sign/agree to some agreement before being allowed to pay in the beta. NDA as far as I lnow.

Michael Matusowsky

Balanace issues take a while to fix up. Final polishing, ie the final 1%, does temd to take the longest of any project. Ever been on a load screen and you’re on 99% and it feels like it takes forever compared to the rest of the load? Yea. That.

sage of the six paths

But it shouldn’t take so long that we have to what half a year.

Michael

Well considering what they’re doing is not on the game itself (since they said anyone can play multiplayer with whatever expansion they use – ie you can get HotS and not have the first SC2 and you can still play with everyone-). They’re fixing up battle.net for HotS, the story, finalising cinematics etc etc… When it comes to Blizzard and Valve, it will come out “when it’s ready”.

sage of the six paths

That’s are very valid argument but still. 1%? Perhaps they were wrong with their estimation but they shouldn’t mislead with the stuff they themselves say.

http://za.movember.com/mospace/3168229 Wayne Bossenger

I would have put all the money in the world on blizzard not releasing HotS this year, haha… hopefully the expansion will rock then!

RichardJonathanDubbeld

eh i’ve only ever been interested in Starcraft’s story, the only campaign mode that Blizzard have not muddied by mixing a multiplayer mode into it.

http://www.facebook.com/nadine.franzsen Nadine Franzsen

Thats interesting to hear, most people who I know of who play the game play it for mp.

NeoN

I’m not surprised since we haven’t heard anything regarding this sequel in a very long time. :/ Still uber amped for the new campaign though..

http://www.facebook.com/KingCarloIII Carlo Serafino

No surprises there actually. Blizzard takes longer for 1% then the other 99% =P

http://www.facebook.com/nadine.franzsen Nadine Franzsen

I wonder if Starcraft 2 would work on my laptop. It looks really good actually, considering I dont really play RTS games.